Article of furniture



April 1969 J. o. BROSK 3,438,676

ART I OLE OF FURNITURE Filed July 10, 1967 INVENTORY Jeffrey Owen Brosk Spurrow and Sporrcw ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,438,676 ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Jeffrey Owen Brosk, 150 E. 69th St., New York, N.Y. 10021 Filed July 10, 1967, Ser. No. 652,131 Int. Cl. A47c 5/00, 7/00, 1/12, 7/02, 11/00 US. Cl. 297-445 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lounge chair or the like made entirely of plastic material, the outer shell and the supporting base constituting the body of the chair consisting preferably of plastic material of sufiicient rigidity to support a person sitting therein, but preferably embodying that degree of yieldability for comfort and a seat portion of resiliently yieldable elastic, depressable plastic material, fiush with the shell, the chair normally simulating a solid cube, cylinder or other desirable solid geometric body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lounge chairs with comfortable soft seats are known in the art, but such chairs have in most cases a heavy framework of wood 'or metal which supports the upholstery comprising springs, layers of cushioning material, etc. Chairs made of molded plastic material are also known in the art, but such chairs are either more or less rigid and stiff, or are composed of various component parts which still require supports and stitfeners. Furthermore, such a chair does not give the visual appearance of a solid block which lends itself for placement in any desired location of a room. It is intended by this invention to overcome all such problems by constructing a novel chair incorporating new and unobvious uses and applications of plastic properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention consists in such novel features, construction arrangements, combination of parts as may be shown and described in connection with the article herein disclosed by way of examples only and as illustrative of preferred embodiments. The invention 'overcomes some of the disadvantages of the prior art in furniture construction 'by using light-weight basic plastic material that offer two different properties conforming to various treatments. It also simplifies considerably the construction of such articles of furniture. Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereafter and in part will be obvious herefrom or may be learned by practicing the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an article of furniture, such as an arm chair or a lounge chair, which consists entirely of plastic materials and in visual appearance simulates a solid block which lends itself for placement in any desired location within a home, office, playroom or the like.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a chair or like article of furniture which does not have any inner framework 'or supporting members in or for the body thereof, which is constructed of foam plastics and which consists completely of an outer shell or body and a seating section, the shell or body being more firm, less flexible and resilient and more resistant to pressure than the inner seating section embraced by the shell.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a chair adapted for use by adults and children, wherein the outer shell is made completely of foam plastic which is somewhat flexible, yet has sufficient rigidity to support a person when seated therein and the seating part is made completely of foam plastic which is sufficiently pliable and resiliently yieldable and springy to return to its normal state when the person arises from the chair; a main feature of the invention being that the shape and contour of the shell and the seating part are such that when the chair is unoccupied it gives the appearance of substantially a solid block.

Yet, another object of the invention is to provide an article of manufacture which can be easily and economically produced.

Various further and more specific purposes, features and advantages will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of this specification and illustrates merely by way of examples embodiments of the device of the invention. In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but such names are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing shows several figures in which like reference numerals denote like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in isometric view a lounge chair according to the invention, in the unoccupied condition;

FIG. 2 shows in isometric view, but in a smaller scale, the lounge chair shown in FIG. 1, but with the inner, yielding, resilient seating section partly compressed, a condition existing when a person sat thereon;

FIG. 3 shows in isometric view another shape of lounge chair embodying the invention in a condition similar to FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 shows in isometric view a chair similar to FIG. 3, but with the seating section comprising a plurality of like members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detail to the drawing illustrating as examples 'only preferred embodiments by which the invention may be realized, there is disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 a lounge chair 10 of substantially cubic shape with open front 10a. The chair consists of an outer shell or body 11 which is preferably integrally molded or otherwise fabricated together with the bottom or base 12 preferably constituted of a substantially light-weight resilient yieldable plastic material, such as polyurethane, p'olystyrene or like material. Such material has a very good resistance against deflection and/or deformation and provides a substantially, relatively stiff, somewhat resilient or yieldable outer shell or body which obviously may be covered with a suitable fabric or may be left in its natural form and color. It is understood that shell or body 11 and bottom 12 may be made of any other suitable material. The interior of shell 11 is fitted with a block 13 which may be 'of the same or similar base material as shell 11, but which, however, is treated in a different manner or constituted of different composition so that it is an elastic foam plastic product with the inherent properties of softness, resiliency or springiness and yielding ability under weight which is adapted to provide a seat when sat up'on. As seen in FIG. 1, block or seat 13 preferably fits the entire space within shell 11 substantially flush with the top 11a of shell 11. When so fitted, the entire chair constitutes a cube substantially solid in normal appearance (FIG. 1). The entire seat disposed in shell 11 may be made of a stack or plurality of individual foam plastic cushions, although it is preferable to provide a seat or cushion in a single or one piece block. It is understood that Patented Apr. 15, 1969 3 such individual cushions also may be covered with any suitable fabric.

FIGURE 2 diagrammatically shows the lounge chair with its depressed inner block 13 demonstrating the condition thereof when a person sits in the chair.

FIG. 3 shows as a further example, another shape of lounge chain in order to demonstrate the versatility of the invention. In this example the shell or body is molded or otherwise constructed such as to form a substantially cylindrical shape as indicated by the reference numeral 14 with an open front 14a. The seating part preferably comprises a solid substantially cylindrical block 15 of suitable resiliently depressable foam material similar to block 13 or may comprise the stack of individual cushions 15a. The complete chair constitutes a cylinder substantially solid in appearance.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows the chair with the depressed inner blocks 13a demonstrating the condition thereof when a person sits in the chair.

Although polyurethane and polystyrene foams have been specifically mentioned it is understood that any other suitable elastic foam material taken from the group comprising polyethylene, styrene, vinyl, urethane foams, their polymers and copolymers, or combinations thereof or any other suitable foam material may be used in the manufacture or construction of the chair. Where the seating part is concerned, the selection of material will be such as to embody the proper cushioning effect embodying resiliently depressability and yieldability.

It is contemplated by this invention to include a chair having a shell or body made of foam plastic but of greater firmness, less flexibility and more resistant to pressure than the foam plastic inner seating part of the chair. Also the shell or body of the chair may be formed of material of sufficient rigidity to support a person sitting therein or may be formed of such material that will support the body of the person yet give sufiiciently to substantially conform to that portion of the body in contact there- With.

Chairs according to the invention may be adopted for use by both adults and children. It is seen that such chairs embody novelty, utility and aesthetic appeal. They may embody in their normal condition any suitable geometric body such as a cube, solid rectangle, solid triangle, pyramid or cylinder.

It is further contemplated by this invention to include a chair or like furniture article having an outer shell with an opening adapted to permit a person to be seated therein; and a seat fitted in the shell and normally substantially flush with the top, sides, front and back thereof, the seat comprising resiliently yielding elastic foam plastic whereby said combined shell and seat in normal condition presents the appearance of a solid block.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to certain preferred examples which will give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the principle of the invention, that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefor in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A chair or like article of body supporting furniture, comprising an outer shell having an opening adapted to permit a person to be seated therein, and a seat fitted in said shell and normally substantially flush with the top, sides, front and back thereof, said seat comprising resiliently yielding elastic foam plastic whereby said shell and said seat in normal condition presents the appearance of a solid block.

2. A chair or like article according to claim 1, and wherein said shell comprises foam plastic more rigid than that of said seat.

3. A chair or like article according to claim 1, and wherein said foam plastic is taken from the group consisting of polyethylene, styrene, vinyl, urethane foams, their polymers and copolymers.

4. A chair or like article according to claim 2 and wherein said outer shell and foam plastic seat are taken from the group consisting of polyethylene, styrene, vinyl, urethane foams, their polymers and copolymers.

5. A chair or like article according to claim 1, and wherein said solid block is a solid rectangle.

6. A chair or like article according to claim 1, and wherein said solid block is a cylinder.

7. A chair or like article according to claim 1, and wherein said solid block is a solid triangle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 101,957 4/1870 Willard 297-447 3,003,815 10/1961 Zinn 297-118 3,111,345 11/1963 Peras 297-452 X 3,175,863 3/1965 Hood 297-455 3,220,769 11/1965 Regan 297-456 X 3,285,660 11/1966 Beckman et a1. 297-445 3,308,491 3/1967 Spence 297-458 3,371,963 3/1968 Weller 297-452 FOREIGN PATENTS 579,057 7/ 1958 Italy.

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 297-422, 452, 456 

